Valve-actuating device for explosive-engines.



w G. E. MEAD. VALVE AGTUATING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.22, 1912.

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M M v @mm EMM 0. E. MEAD. VALVE AGTUATING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.22, 1912.

1 1 1 1 ,665. Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

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vaLvn-acruarrne nnvrcn non. nxrLosrvn-Enemns Specification of LettersPatent. .Patentedtiept, 2 ll llls Application filed January 22, 1912.Eterial 130,672,805.

devices for explosive engines and more par-i ticularly to a device foractuatmg a rotary valve in an engine comprising a plurality of units.

The objects oi the invention are, first,

to rovide a valve actuatin device which vwill permit of the valve beingformed in a plurality of relatively short sections, thereby reducing thetorsional strain. onthe valve and further materially facilitating themanufacture of the same; second, to so construct the device that thesections of the valve may be simultaneously adjusted; and third, tomount the actuating device so as to reduce the strain or thrust on thevalves to a minimum and to permit the free expansion and contraction ofthe valves.

.In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1' is a side elevation of anengine embodying mv invention: Fi 2 is an elevation of the .1 b

1s a sectionvalve-actuating device; Fig. 3 taken centrally through thedevice and the adjacent portions of the valve chambers; and Figs. 4 and5 are sections taken centrally of slightly modified forms of theactuating device. A

In these drawings I have illustrated the invention as applied .to a fourcylinder gas engine having its cylinder cast in units, each unitcomprising two cylinders. These unitsvare indicatcdat- 1 and'2',respectively and are spaced apart, as is customary. Mounted in bothunits so as to control the intake and exhaust to and-from all thecylinders bf the engine is a rotary valve 3. A valveof, the lengthrequired for a four cylinder engine is difiicult to manufacture and whenrotation is imparted thereto at one end thereof it is subjected tosevere torsional strain.

To overcome both the dilliculties in manufacture and this torsionalstrain on the valve I mountthe actuating device between the two units ofthe engine and form the valve in two separate parts; one of which ismounted in each of the units and which are so connected with theactuating device as to be rotated in unison thereby. By mounting theactuating device at the middle of the valve it will beobvious that thetorsional strain to which the valve is subjected is very greatly reducedand it is equally obvious that as a manufacturing proposition it is-mucheasier to work twoshort valves to true cylindrical shape than it is asingle valve equal to the-length of the two short valves. In carryingout the iii-1 vention I prefer to 'ir iount the actuatingde viceindependently of the valves, and to C0111 nect the same to the valves insuch a man ner that the latter will be free to expand and contract andwill notbe subjected to any thrust or strain. In the presentconstruction l have 'a c coinplished this by mounting on one of theunits a hollow stud 4 having a longitudinal opening in alinement withthe valve chambers of both units. This stud may be secured totheenginein any suitable manner. As here shown it is secured thereto by means ofscrews 5 extending through apertured lugs 6.

outer portion of the stud 4 is provided with a cylindrical bearingsurface upon which is mounted the actuatingniember which, in the presentconstruction; comprises a sprocket wheel 7 and, as-here shown,antifriction rollers 8 are interposed between. the sprocket wheel andthe bearing'surface' of the stud. A collar 9 is rigidly secured to theouter end of the stud to hold the actuating member and the frictionrollers against movement longitudinallyv of the hub. This connectionv ishere sshownjas formed by providing the collar-with an inwardly extendingscrew-threaded boss 10 adapted to be screwed into the screw-thread edouter portion of the stud The two valve 1nembers3 are provided on theiradjacent ends with inwardly extending stems 11 noncircular in crosssection and these two parts of the valve are connected one to-theotherby'means of a sleeve 12 fitting loosely with-I in the hollow stud 4and having its longiv tudinal opening of a shape correspondingsubstantially to the cross'sect'ional shape of the non-circular stems11. The stems of the valve parts are adapted toextend into the oppositeends of the sleeve and the lit be;

ill

' to time the valve,

tween the stems and the sleeve is such as to prevent any rotary movementof the stems relatively to the sleeve but at the same time to permlt ofthe longitudinal movement of the stems relatively to the sleeve and thuspermit of the expansion and contraction of the valve. The sleeve whichserves to con nectthe .valves one to the other also serves to connectthe same with the actuating member and to this end has rigidly securedthereto four radial arms 13 constituting a spider and having their outerportions bent inwardly and connected with the sprocket wheel. Theconnection between the spider and the actuating member is preferably anadjustable one and to this end the connectionis formed by means ofscrews 14 extending through slots 15 in thesprocket wheel and screwedinto apertures in the outer ends of the arms 13 ofthe spider.

It is. also desirable that means should be provided whereby the valveswill be caused to occupy a fixed relation to the driving.

member or gear when these .two parts are, operatively connected one withthe other, thus enabling the valve to be timed and then re moved andre-inserted without afl'ecting its timing. This may be Very readilyaccomplished by providing the sleeve 12 with an irregular opening andshaping the stem of the valve section to correspond with this openingas, for example, by providing the opening with three angular corners andone round corner and rounding one corner of the stemin the same manner.With this construction after the sleeve has once been adjusted withreference to the driving member the valve may be removed and re-insertedwithout interfering with its adjustment and without interfering in anyway with the timing of the valve. The removal of a section of the valveis accomplished by detaching the removable cap'16 porting device,

at that end of the valve opposite the driving gear and simplywithdrawing the valve sec tion.

It will be obvious that the driving member may be supported andconnected with the valve sections in different ways and, in Figs. 4 and5, I have, by way of illustrating the changes which are possible, showntwo modified forms ofthe device. In Fig. l the supwhich is indicated at17, is in the form of a housing and-has mounted therein two ball races18. The driving memher, which is shown in the form of a worm wheel 19 onopposite sides of the worm wheel,ball races 21. Balls 22 are mounted inrace ways 18 and 21 and the driving member is thus supported by rollerbearings upon the housing.

. Instead of utilizing the hollow sleex e connection shown in Figs. 1 to3 I have, in this instance,=-mounted within the hub a shaft 23 connectedat its opposite ends with the valve 7 has a hub 20 to which is secured,

members and adjustably connected with the hub'20. This connection, inthe present instance, is formed by providing the shaft 23 with screwthreads 24 near each end thereof, which threads engage correspondingthreads in the adjacent end portions of the hub. The hub and shaft arelocked in fixed relation by means of nuts 25 mounted on those portionsof the shaft extending beyond the hub. The connection between the endsof the shaft and the respective valve members may be accomplished in anysuitable manner. In the present instance the ends of the shaft areslotted, as indicated at 26, and the adjacent ends of the valve sectionsare also slotted, as indicated at 27 the respective slots extending,when in their normal positions, at right angles one to the other. Aconnectin member 28 is interposed between the end of the shaft and theend of the respective valve section and has keys or projections 29 and30 arranged to engage the slots in the valve section andshaftrespectively, thus connecting the parts one to the other andretaining them in their fixed relation but at the, same time permittingthe valve section to have a limited longitudinal and radial movementrelatively to the driving member and eliminating all strain or thrustupon the valve.

In Fig. 5 a similar construction is followed save that the shaft isconnected with the hub and the valve sections in a different manner. inthis instance the hub 20 of the driving member is provided'with a longitudinal tapered opening and the shaft 31 is tapered to fit within thetapered opening of extend beyond the ends of the hub are screwlhreadedand nuts 82 mounted on these screw-threaded portions serve to retain thehub and the shaft in adjusted and operative relations. The connectionbetween the valve sections and the shaft is similar to that firstdescribed. 'llhelapered shaft 31 is provided with a longitudinal openingangular in cross section, into which extend the angular stems 3 of thevalve scctions.-

Another feature of importance which will i be noted in the severalconstructions herein illustrated is the relation of the ends of thevalve members to their respective valve chambers. valve member is flushwith or extends slightly beyond the corresponding end of the valvechamber. If the valve memberterminatos short of the endof' its chamberthere is a tendency for the oil or other lubricating agent employed tolubricate the valve to work its way beyond the end of the valve andthere to bake or become hardened and form In each instance the .end ofthe the hub. Those portions of the shaft which v a very hard shoulderwhich interferes with v the longitudinal movement or removal of thevalve member. .Also, if the valve terminates short of the end of itschamber the wear tends eventually to form a shoulder in the chamloer. Bycausing the valve sections, at both ends, to extend to. or slightlybeyond the corresponding endsvof the valve chambers both of theseundesirable results are avoided and there is no accumulation of carbonor hardened oil in the ends or" the valve chambers and there is noshoulder Worn -within the valve chambers. Consequently, the valve hasfree and unobstructed longitudinal movement to permit either of theexpansion and contractidn or playof the valve or to permit of itsremoval.

It Wlll be apparent that the actuating device for the valve is supportedindependently of the valve and that the'latter is thus entirely relievedof the strain and thrust due-to the operation of the actuating; that thevalve is free to exdevice and also pend and contract inasmuch as it haslongitudinalmovement relatively to the actu ating device. Moreover,it'will bea'pparent that (disconnection between the valve-see tions andthe actuating device is such as to permit the two, parts of the valve tobe simultaneously and easily adjusted and to retain these two parts ofthevalve in their properirelative positions; and further, that theconnection is such as to permit the valve to be readily withdrawn and topermitthis to be accomplished without interfering with the adjustment,or timing, of thevalve. It will also be apparent that the arrangement ofthe valve actuating device between the two units of the engine enablesthe valve to be made in two or more relatively short sections which notonly facilitates the manufacture of the valve but very materiallyreduces thetorsional strain thereon.

While it have replaced and shown and described one embodimentof'theinvention with several construction the engine as a whole is builtmodifications thereof it will be understood that these are chosen forthe purpose of illustration'bnlyand that the invention may be embodiedin many forms, in the present in two units but the invention is ecapablcof embodiment in structed, it being only necessary that'the valvechamber for the rotary valve should be divided into two parts and thevalveactuating device mounted between the two parts of the valvechamber,- any construction embodying sucha two part valve chamber beingthe full: equivalent of the two-unit engine. I, therefore, stood thatIdo not desire to be limited to the detailsof construction 51' own anddescribed, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled inthe art:

-Having thus fnlly described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-:

1. In an explosive engine comprising two units spaced apart and havingv'a lve chamengines otherwise con-. 1

wish itto be under-= bers arranged in longitudinal alinement, a rotaryvalve mounted in both of said chambers, and a valve-actuating devicemounted in the space between said units and operatively connected withsaid valve.

2. In an explosive engine having a valve chamber divided into two parts,said parts being arranged 'inaxial alinement, a retary'valve mounted inboth parts of said valvechamber, and-a valve actuating de-' 7evice'mounted between the two parts of said valve chamber on an axissubstantially coincident with the axis of said valve, and an operativeconnection between said valve'and' said actuating device.

3. In an explosive enginecomprising two units, arotary valve comprisingseparate; parts mounted in.- the respective'unitsand arranged in axialalinement of" said engine, and an actuating device'mounted between gsaidunits, supported independently of saidvalve and connected with bothparts thereof.

; i. in explosive 'enginehaving a valve chamber divided into twoparts,'said parts being arranged in axial alinement, a rotary so valvecomprising separate sections mounted in the respective parts of saidvalve cham-- her, an actuating device mounted between the two parts ofsaid valve. chamber, and-an;- adjustable connection between said valveactuating device and the two sections of said valve, whereby saidsections can; be lsirnultaneously adjusted relatively to said:actuating'device.

chamber divided into two parts, said-parts fleeing arranged in axialalinement, a rotary' valve comprising separate sections mounted intherespective parts of said valvecharm' her, an actuating device mountedbetween the two parts o;t' said valve chamber,".supported independentlyof both sections of said valve and rotatable about an axissubstantiallycoincident with the axis-of said" rotary valve, and a" connectionbetween the ltwo sections of said valve and said actuating device. V

6. In an explosive engine comprising two units spaced apart, a rotaryvalve consisting of two separate parts mounted in the re 1"15 spectiveunits and arranged in axial alineev -ment, asupport mounted on one ofsaid zunits, a valve-actuating devicemounted 'on said support, and meansfor connecting both parts of said valvetorsaid; actuating device becausethem to be actuated in unison.

7..l n an explosive engine having'a valve chamber divided into twoparts, said parts being arranged in axial alinement, a rotary valveconsisting of two separate sections mounted in the respective parts ofsaid valve chamber, a support carried by said engine, a. valve-actuatingdevice mountedion said support, and a connecting member adjustablysecured to said valve-actuating device and l 5. In an explosive enginehaving a; valve loo detachably secured to both sections of said f asvalve.

8. In an 'explosive'engine having a valve chamber divided into twoparts, said parts being arranged in axial alinement, a rotary valveconsisting of two separate sections mounted in the respective parts ofsaid valve chamber, a support carried by said engine, a valve actuatingdevice mounted on said support, a connecting device interposed betweensaid valve-actuating device and said valve sections, adjustablyconnected to said valveactuating device and having means for connectingeach of said valve sectionsthereto in predetermined relative positions.

9. In an explosive engine comprising two units spaced apart, a rotaryvalve consisting of two separate parts mounted in the respective unitsand arranged in axial alinement, a support mounted on one of said units,a valve-actuating device mounted on said support, and means foradjustably connecting both parts of said valve to said actuating deviceto cause them to be actuated and adjusted in unison.

- 10. In an explosive engine comprising two units spaced apart, a rotaryvalve consisting of separate parts mounted in the respective units andarranged in axialalinement, means for connecting the two partsof saidvalve one to the other to cause them to rotate in unison, an actuatingdevice,vmeans for sup porting said actuating device independently ofsaid valve, and a connection between said actuating device and saidvalve.

11. In an explosive engine comprising-two units spaced apart, a rotaryvalv'e consisting of separate parts mounted in the respective units,each part of said valve having a stem non-circular in cross sectionextending into the space between said units, a stud mounted on one ofthe units of said engine and having a longitudinal opening in alinementwith said valve, an actuating member rotatably mounted on said stud, asleeve non-circular in cross section mounted in the opening in said studand inclosing the adjacent ends of the non-circular stems of the twoparts of said valve, and a connection between said sleeve and saidactuatmg member.

12. In an explosive'engme comprising two units spaced apart, a rotaryvalve consisting of separate parts mounted in the, respective units,each part of-said valve having a stem non-circular in cross sectlonextending into the space between said; units, a stud mounted on one ofthe units of said engine and havrnlg1 wit a longitudinal opening inalinement said valve, an actuating member rotatably mounted on saidstud, a sleeve non-circular in cross section mounted in theopenin 'insaid stud and inclosing the adjacent en of the non-circular stems of thetwo parts of said valve, outwardly extending arms rlgldly secured tosaid sleeve,

and ad ustable connections between the outer ends of said arms and saidactuatingmember.

13. In an explosive englne having a valve chamber divided into twoparts, a rotary valve consisting of separate sections mounted in therespective parts of said valve chamber, each section of said valvehaving a stem non-circular in cross section extending into the space.between said units, a support carried by one of the units of saidengine, an

actuating member rotatably mounted on said support, a connecting devicecarried by said actuating member and having an opening.

non-circular in cross section to receive the adjacent ends of thenon-circular stems of the two sections of said valve.

14:- In an explosive engine having a valve chamber divided into twoparts, a rotary valve consisting of separate sections mounted in therespective parts of said-valve chamber, each section of said valve havinnon-circulanm cross section extending into .the space between saidunits, a support carried by said engine,

an actuating member rotatably mounted on-sa'1d'support, a connectingdevice'carrled by said actuating -member and having an openingnon-circular in cross section to receive the adjacent ends of thenon-circular stems of the two sections of said valve, thecross-sectional shapesof said holow connecting device and said stemsbeing such that said stems can enter said hollow device only when inpredetermined posi-- tions relatively thereto.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, CYRUS MEAD.

HARRIET L. HAMMAKER.

a stem.

